Chapter Forty One

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Gracie ~

Lucky's bar was crowded and loud, but Wes kept me tucked under his arm, using his body to shield me from misplaced shoulders and elbows as we searched for our group.

Feeling the corded muscles of Wes' abdomen as he pulled me against his side was a sensation I hadn't realized I missed so much. He was taller and broader than I was, but I fit perfectly against him like a puzzle piece.

Every few steps he'd look down at me and give me a half smile that made my insides warm and fuzzy.

Gosh I missed this.

He was so attentive, so intentional with everything he did, doing exactly as I'd asked. Wes hadn't just apologized, he was showing me with his actions that he was fully committed to me and no one else.

A drunk frat guy stumbled back in our direction as we walked past the bar. I braced myself for impact as the guy stumbled closer, but Wes was all over it.

Lowering his shoulder, Wes took the brunt of the guys weight, then threw his shoulder forward, pushing him away without lifting a finger.

Frat daddies of all sizes caught their drunken friend, keeping him from tumbling to the ground and glaring at Wes.

"Watch your fucking step." Wes growled, pulling me behind him slightly.

It was obvious that the gang of bros contemplated starting a fight with Wes over their fallen comrade, but ultimately decided against it.

I couldn't blame them. Wes had some serious pent up aggression that was evident in his expression and body language, not to mention the fighting scars and bruises all over him. In the time we'd spent apart Wes must have spent every waking moment at the gym. His muscles seemed more swollen and big beneath his clothes and his skin was bruised and cut in various places.

"Assholes." He muttered under his breath.

Blake's tall frame appeared over the crowd, waving his arms at us at a small table that he had secured.

Thank goodness.

We joined our group of friends who already had drinks at the ready for us.

"Damn Wes, you look like shit." Mandy said, giving Wes a once over from head to toe.

"Good to see you too Mandy." Wes snickered before taking a swig of the beer he'd been handed.

Normally they'd throw verbal jabs at each other, but there was nothing she could say that would get Wes down tonight. He found some way to maintain a physical connection with me the entire night, which I didn't dislike in the least. Wes let me lean back on his chest as I sat on the bar stool, or rested his hand on my thigh or the small of my back. Even when he and Blake fought the crowd to get more drinks, Wes would look over his shoulder and shoot me an effortless wink that made my stomach swarm with butterflies

"You look happy." Mandy said, looking at me with relief on her face.

"I feel happy." I confirmed.

"He looks happy too, but also like he got in a boxing match with a 300 pound gorilla."

Mandy's comment caused a laugh to escape from my tipsy mouth before I took another sip of my drink, eyeing Wes from across the bar.

"I think it was his way of punishing himself," I added, tilting my head slightly as I studied him.

"Well he did a good job."

"Yeah." I agreed, feeling a pang of guilt in my gut.

Wes and Blake returned with drinks for the table and I smiled as soon as I felt Wes' arm wrap around my middle.

"Brought you a little somethin." Wes said against my hair from behind.

I turned in his arms only to find a vodka tonic in one of his hands and a small bag of cookies in the other.

Ignoring the drink completely, I snatched the snack bag out of his hand.

"Where did you get these?" I asked with a little too much excitement in my drunken voice.

"I spotted an employee vending machine on my way to the bar."

My heart melted at his gesture, knowing I valued snacks over all things. I hugged the small bag to my chest and smiled up at him.

"How do you know me so well?"

"Because you're mine."

His words sent goosebumps down my arms and spine as I swooned and leaned against him. It was such a sweet moment - one that I thought couldn't be ruined...but I was wrong.

My peripheral vision caught a familiar figure in the background, dancing to the live music with her eyes glued to Wes...my Wes.

Trisha.

Sensing my change in demeanor and feeling my body go rigid against his, Wes turned over his shoulder, searching for the source of my discomfort.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Wes muttered through gritted teeth.

"Just ignore her, Wes." I said against his chest, feeling him tighten his hold on me.

"The fuck is she doing?" Mandy said.

All heads turned to Trisha abs she seemed to love the attention, waving Wes over as if he'd let go of me for her.

Wes huffed out an angry breath with a deep scowl on his face, never leaving my side as he glared at her.

Understanding that her invitation to join her was not going to be accepted, Trisha made her way over to our table, dripping with misplaced confidence and her hips swaying with every step.

"I see you've downgraded yet again." Trisha hissed, causing Wes to lunge forward.

I held his hands behind his back and he allowed me to, standing only inches from Trisha as he seethed with hatred.

You put your hands on her and you're going to jail. Don't give her the satisfaction. She's baiting you.

"Get. The fuck. Away. From me." Wes growled in Trisha's face in a lethal tone, enunciating every word.

"Aww come on baby" Trisha snickered, sticking out her lip in a pouty expression.

"Bitch, he said leave." Mandy yelled, with Blake holding her back as well.

Giving Mandy an eye roll, Trisha relented, understanding fully that she was an unwelcome trespasser.

"Fine. Call me when you come to your senses."

With all the confidence in the world, Trisha walked away as if she'd won. She and her friends parted the crowd toward the bathroom and I couldn't stand the thought of her thinking that Wes wanted anything to do with her. I'd never felt so protective or possessive before, but my anger boiled up and spilled over as I watched Trisha turn over her shoulder and blow me a kiss. The final straw to my dwindling self control.

"You know what? Fuck this." I snapped as I side stepped Wes' large body.

"Gracie wait," Wes pleaded, but I was already gone.

"Oh shit." Blake said as he and Chad scrambled off of their bar stools chasing after Mandy, Maggie, and myself.

I didn't even have to turn around to know Maggie and Mandy were following me, with their presence alone giving me strength and confidence.

This ends tonight. I'm over this bitch.

Storming into the bathroom, my eyes instantly landed on Trisha as she leaned over the sink fixing her make up in the mirror.

"I wondered when I'd be hearing from you."she sneered, looking at me through the mirror reflection. "It's understandable that you'd be threatened by me. What Wes and I have is...raw and animalistic. It's exciting and you're...well you're safe and boring."

Her words set my skin on fire and I glared at her, taking a calm step forward. I wanted to scream at her, I wanted to put hands on her, but I didn't do either of those things. I took in a deep breath and I smiled at her.

"Oh Trisha, I'm not threatened by you,sweetie."

My half hearted term of endearment cause Trisha to turn her head and face me.

"You're right, you are exciting, but you're predictable. You give yourself to guys in 5 hour increments because deep down you know they'd reject you if they got to know the real Trisha. You tear down other women for your own gains and you're the worst type of female. You're a heartless bitch, Trisha. And while some guys may enjoy the excitement of watching your tits bounce around in their face for 30 minutes, you and I both know that's all you'll ever be to them. Men like Wes don't want to come home to a heartless bitch, they don't want a heartless bitch raising their children. I'm not threatened by you sweetie...I'm embarrassed for you...I feel sorry for you."

My cold words slammed into Trisha's ears and her eyes brimmed with tears as she stared me down, her lip snarled with anger.

Her silence was the only response I needed as I turned to leave, blowing her a kiss over my shoulder for good measure.

Mandy and Maggie led the way out of the bathroom, holding the door open for me. But before I could pass through the threshold of the doorway, I felt Trisha's hand grab a fistful of my hair from behind.

She let out an animalistic scream as she yanked my hair toward the ground, pulling me backwards.

Oh hell no.

I never considered myself a fighter or a strong person in general to be honest. I let everyone in my life, from my parents to my ex, walk all over me and hurt me. I was passive, a silent observer to my own life...but not anymore.

Feeling adrenaline pump through my veins, my mind instantly turned to Wes. We'd spent several nights wrestling around in his living room, play fighting and laughing for hours. While time we spent together was fun and playful, I had learned a hell of a lot and it was about to come in handy.

Wes' words echoed in the back of my mind as Trisha yanked me backwards.

"Keep your opponent in front of you."

I spun around, pivoting my body with my hair still in Trisha's hand.

Using my momentum against her, I traveled with her instead of against her, throwing my elbow up against the side of her head. She let go of my hair the second my elbow made contact with her skull, shaking her head as I put space between us.

"Even out your weight on your feet. Never let your opponent take you to the ground because you're so small."

I readied my body and studied her, letting Wes' words be my guide.

"Don't look at your opponents eyes, keep your focus at their collar bones and watch for shoulder movement. Dropping of one shoulder indicates they are about to throw a punch."

Staring at Trisha's well defined collar bone, I smirked when her right shoulder dropped in dramatic fashion, making her weak punch easy to anticipate and dodge.

I bobbed my head to the side and avoided her sad excuse for a punch.

She lunged at me out of pure desperation and hatred, clawing at my face and neck before I pushed her away, giving me perfect access to the left side of her face as she stumbled forward.

Dropping my arm back, I delivered a punch across Trisha's left cheek.

"Don't just try to punch someone, picture your fist punching through them."

The impact was more painful than I imagined, but I had so much adrenaline in my system that the pain was short lived as Trisha's head whipped to one side and she slumped to the ground.

A strong arm wrapped around my middle from behind, lifting me off my feet and into the arm, causing me to kick and squirm.

"Let me go!" I grunted as I was being carried away from the bathroom against my will.

"Gracie calm down it's me." Wes' voice echoed from behind me as he set me down on my feet and turned me in his arms.

It took longer than expected for my brain to register his voice and shut down my fight or flight response as I instinctively pushed off of his muscular chest.

"Easy! Easy there killer." Wes said with a proud smile as he took hold of my arms and held them at the center of his chest.

I finally focused on Wes' grinning face and relaxed slightly.

"You good?" He asked, brushing his thumb gently on the side of my cheek.

Catching my breath and riding out my adrenaline, I nodded my head at his question.

"Yeah." I confirmed breathlessly.

"You beat her fucking ass. I'm so damn proud of you."

Wes was beaming with pride as he cupped my face and manipulated my head in his hands, tilting it back and forth as he surveyed my injuries.

"She got you pretty good over here." Wes said with a serious expression on his face as he carefully eyed my neck.

Trisha's overly manicured nails had broken my skin, leaving bright red gashes on the side of my neck.

"She okay?" Blake asked, holding Mandy back with one arm.

"Yeah she's good. Got a few scratches."

Wes continued to speak to Blake, but kept his eyes glued to me with a mixture of love and pride in his eyes.

"Let's get this little fighter cleaned up."

********

Thoughts? I love hearing from you!


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net